A/N: Ahh! Such a hectic day! Okay, I'm going to be simple here: THANKS EVERYONE!
And now for a special treat, an ode to my dear friend 'Tani', aka redrum and wine! This is called Ode to a Friend:
Oh my friend, I know you're in pain
Please don't get mad because I made him insane
Besides, you can't say you aren't crazy too
And I have proof that I can show you
I have a picture that is so funny-
A picture of you holding a cute bunny
Thank you, thank you...no applause necessary! -smiles at audience-
Okay, now on with the story!
Reminder-... /-/-/-/memory;... +-+-+-+past, not a memory;... /-/-+memory and past;... #(anything after)special pov
Disclaimer: I do not own the songs referred to in this story, nor do I own the characters that Rumiko Takahashi created. However any original characters are mine, and as a special treat, I give everyone permission to use them (hell why not; I don't make money off this anyways!) No suing me; you wouldn't get more than a few dollars even if you had a case, and the lawyer would cost more.
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Chapter 5-Innervision (System of A Down)
There's only one true path in life...the road that leads to our hearts...
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"Sesshoumaru-kun, why do you hate her? What's so terrible about humans?" InuTaisho asked, his tone full of hurt and confusion.
"Humans are weak and pathetic. They clamor for attention and need constant babysitting. They're always at risk of getting hurt or killed; they aren't even safe from themselves. They could fall down a short few steps and break all the bones in their weak bodies. They're too fragile, too fleeting...they die so easily by injuries, and even if they were to live out their entire lives, it would only be a fraction of a lifetime for us. They can't even rough out a full century! Anything associated with humans is a mere passing frenzy, nothing more than heated passion that will soon end and be naught but dust and bones and ashes in a silent grave. Why do you love her, Father? She is nothing to you. You cannot stay with her as you wish to; she will die before you can blink, and you'll be mourning her as if you'd known her for millennia. It's all just pointless and foolish," Sesshoumaru said.
"Love is never pointless," InuTaisho whispered. "It can be foolish, yes, but never pointless..."
"If you'll acknowledge the folly, then why do you still continue?" Sesshoumaru snapped angrily. "She's worthless! It's a waste of your time and energy to even spare her a glance! What's happened to you?"
"Nothing has happened to me, Sesshoumaru-kun...I'm still the same person," InuTaisho said.
"No you aren't, Father. You've become a foolish heel-hound, following that human around like some lost pup and begging for her ministrations as if you'll die without them."
"Watch what you say, Sesshoumaru-kun," InuTaisho warned. "I may love you, but that does not mean that I have to tolerate your insolence."
"And what are you going to do, Father? Confine me in some dark prison? Beat me senseless? Disown me? I would, if I were you," Sesshoumaru crossed his arms expectantly.
InuTaisho looked at his son for a long few minutes, tried to ignore the fact that this was his son, tried to pretend that it was just any other demon who had insulted his status, his pride, his love...but he couldn't. He sighed heavily and rubbed his temples, closing his eyes.
"No, I will do none of that," InuTaisho said slowly. "You are entitled to your opinion."
"As if!" Sesshoumaru shrieked angrily, dropping his hands and clenching them into fists. "You're the Lord of the Western Lands! Nobody should be allowed to speak against you! Not even me, not even your own son! At least do something-growl at me, at least do that much-or glare at me angrily, or bare your fangs-do SOMETHING!"
"I won't do anything to you, Sesshoumaru-kun," InuTaisho said simply, turning to look to the side.
"No, Father...no, you wouldn't, would you?" Sesshoumaru sneered, regaining his former angry-yet-calm composure. "You've become soft and weak, tainted by that human of yours. Your power is waning because you've been polluting your mind with her subtle sorceries," the younger demon scowled.
"You will NOT speak of her that way!" InuTaisho growled, turning to glare at his son.
"That's better," Sesshoumaru smirked. "At least that bitch of yours-"
"Sesshoumaru, I'm warning you-you should discontinue that thought," InuTaisho snarled loudly as he revealed his fangs menacingly.
"-has taken off your collar for a little while," Sesshoumaru continued calmly, ignoring the warning.
"I think it would be best if you were to remain silent," InuTaisho said angrily, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"I suppose I could be quiet if I wanted to. But that won't be necessary, because dogs that are on leashes will only be able to go so far before they choke," Sesshoumaru smirked tauntingly.
"Why you insolent little whelp!" InuTaisho finally snapped, and in half an instant he was next to the younger demon. Before he knew it, Sesshoumaru was slammed roughly into the nearest wall, held up by the collar of his kimono and at least two feet off the ground. InuTaisho was snarling angrily with barely suppressed rage, but Sesshoumaru only smiled.
"So, Father, tell me, is she really such a bitch that you mistook her for a female dog?" he asked calmly.
InuTaisho tightened his grip on the kimono.
"What's stopping you, Father?" Sesshoumaru grinned mockingly. "Afraid that you'll have a difficult struggle with your own son? Fearing your own weakness, perhaps? Are you simply in denial? Don't tell me that you've gotten too weak to reprimand anyone who insults you. Or maybe you've just grown so soft that it sickens you to think of fighting? No, maybe you'd rather be prancing about happily in the flower gardens."
"I've had enough of your tongue!" InuTaisho finally growled out, whirling around angrily. He still held Sesshoumaru in his grip, and he let go as he spun, sending the young demon flying right into another wall. Sesshoumaru was knocked breathless for an instant, and he sensed his mind clouding over...he felt himself swoon, almost unconcious...
He slowly climbed to his feet, then wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth and shook his hand. He chuckled quietly at his father.
"Is that the only thing you can manage to do? Throw me into a wall? Father, you've been doing that since I was half this age. You should know better by now-it doesn't hurt," Sesshoumaru smirked.
"Don't force me to hurt you, Sesshoumaru," InuTaisho said.
"And if I do?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"You'll regret it," InuTaisho said. "And so will I," he added softly, his anger beginning to subside.
"Oh no, I'm not letting you get off that easily!" Sesshoumaru said hastily as he sensed his father's anger ebb away. "You're going to make me pay for my insults, or else I'll make you pay for your weakness!" he declared as he rushed forward, pouncing upon his father in a fury. He latched onto the older demon's back and wrapped one arm around his throat, trying to choke him. InuTaisho reached his own arm around and grasped the younger demon, pulling him off forcefully. Sesshoumaru growled and tackled InuTaisho again, this time extending his vicious claws and aiming for the chest. InuTaisho dodged easily, but he idly realized that Sesshoumaru would not stop until he was beaten into submission-and that could take a while.
"Don't make me do this, Sesshoumaru-I don't want to fight you," InuTaisho whispered.
"Then don't fight," Sesshoumaru growled and dropped his stance. "I wouldn't attempt to fight you if you acted the way you were supposed to. I'm not allowed to get away with these things, but you've become too weak to stop me. What prevents you from acting now, Father? Don't feed me those lies about loving me. It never stopped you when I was a child. You would always correct me when I was younger. What's happened to you?"
"Nothing," InuTaisho forced himself to say. "Nothing has happened to me."
"Then you shouldn't have any qualms about asserting yourself. Unless, of course, this means that you admit that I'm right-because you're leading me to believe that your refusal to correct me means that I'm not the one in need of correcting. Is that it, Father?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"No, it's not," InuTaisho sighed heavily. "And it is at the same time. I simply think that you're entitled to-"
"Quit feeding everyone that lame old bullshit," Sesshoumaru snapped. "It's not true and you know it. I was never allowed to voice a contradictory opinion before she came along, why now?"
"You were allowed to have your own opinions, Sesshoumaru-you always were," InuTaisho said.
"I was allowed to have them, but you always told me to keep them to myself," Sesshoumaru said. "And now you let me scream and rant and go on like a whiny child-I do everything to get your damn attention and maybe see something left of the Father I once knew, the strong demon who never allowed anyone to disrespect him-and I find a weak little pup, wagging his tail and doting on some pathetic human, begging to be shown some affection!"
"I am no pup, Sesshoumaru-kun. If anything, you would be the pup here," InuTaisho growled.
"Then make sure I'm the one acting like the pup and that you're the one acting like the father!" Sesshoumaru screamed angrily. He stormed out of the room, slamming every door he came across and throwing every object he was capable of throwing along the way. InuTaisho sighed wearily, rubbing his forehead with the intent of easing the pain in his mind.
He wondered if it was really true, everything that Sesshoumaru had said...was he really becoming weak? He knew that he let his son get away with things that he should never have allowed in his right mind-perhaps the young demon was right...
"What's going on?" Izayoi asked quietly, appearing from one of the many hallways. She paused to look around the room, seeing the way that about half of it was demolished, and she shook her head lightly before going over to her lover. "I heard a lot of noise. What's the matter?"
"It's Sesshoumaru-kun again," InuTaisho sighed. "Izayoi, do I seem weaker than when you first met me?"
"Of course not!" Izayoi said firmly.
"I haven't kept him in check for the last three months," InuTaisho confessed quietly. "He thinks that I have grown soft, weak, unwilling to defend my own honor...and he thinks it's because of you, which is the worst part of it all. Izayoi, what am I to do?"
"Oh, I cannot see you in such pain any longer," Izayoi said, tears forming in her eyes. "I will leave-"
"No, Izayoi, you don't have to-"
"Shh, my love, it's alright," Izayoi touched her finger to his lips. "I will leave, and he will not have to deal with me any longer. Then you can mend your life. He is your son, my Lord-I cannot take that from you, no matter how much I love you. If it means that I have to leave in order for you and him to work things out, then I will leave. Neither you nor he will ever be bothered by me again," she whispered quietly. "I would not see your family fall apart because of me-no, young Sesshoumaru-kun is more important than I am. He is your son, your flesh and blood and bone, your kin, your closest relative-and I am not even a demon as you are!" she said.
"No, Izayoi..." InuTaisho took in a sharp breath. "You shouldn't be forced to leave..."
"I leave of my own accord," she soothed, giving him a bittersweet smile. "I love you, dearest, but I cannot allow you and Sesshoumaru-kun to keep fighting over me. I would die in a scant half-century as it is, and my life would pass by like so many leaves in the wind. You will find somebody much better than I am, and she will be a demon, capable of living with you for far longer without needing so much care and protection. And Sesshoumaru will be more accepting of a demon woman, and you will be able to see eye-to-eye once more. I would that you forget about me, for the yearning to turn back would be too great if I knew you remembered..."
"Izayoi...I..." InuTaisho began, blinking rapidly. "I know this sounds horrible, but...even if you were to go, I don't think it would change," he said unhappily. "He's already lost all respect for me..."
"Consider it, my love. Don't rush your decision," Izayoi smiled at him soothingly. "I will leave if you want me to, and I will stay if you want me to-but I cannot help but think that maybe the young Prince Sesshoumaru does not want me around," she said quite calmly.
"I only wish he would understand..." InuTaisho sighed. He had to wonder, though-he could not keep himself from asking his own mind if perhaps she wasn't right...maybe they were both right...his innervision faded in and out, showing him random memories of times past...his heart ached for the bond he once had with his son...
If only his innervision would be reality, and reality would be just a cruel nightmare...
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So, what does everyone think? Tell me by reviewing! And thanks to everyone who reviewed before, you all make me so happy!
Oh, special notes:
Lori: No, I wasn't referring to you with that particular A/N. I apprecitae constructive criticism, and that is what your review was. Thank you for reading! I love it when people are honest, not outright stupid like that other person (I mean sheesh they need to do some homework!)
Tani: All I can say is this: YOU ASKED FOR IT!
Thanks once again to all my wonderful reviewers! You make my days so much happier! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!